Racecar Challenge is a coding competition based on the Python and robotics course, Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026, designed by the Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and offered for free to any student in Greece enrolled in Gymnasio or in 1st Lykeio at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. Unlike prior competitions, this year’s competition will be primarily based on the codes the teams will be asked to write on the day of the competition, as per a Grand Prix track, which will be given to them then. The competition will not require a physical car.

To participate in the Racecar Challenge, students must have completed the Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 course. By registering for the Racecar Challenge, students and their teacher will have free access to the online asynchronous course Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026, as well as to Python Core, a comprehensive Python introduction course, both designed and offered by BWSI (in English). 

This program is the result of a collaboration between the Mathisi Initiative and the Beaver Works Summer Institute, with the support of the MIT Club of Greece. Additionally, it involves a collaboration between Mathisi and Pierce – The American College of Greece, which organizes and hosts the competition.

First Prize and Certificates of completion from the Beaver Works Summer Institute

Students and teachers who will have successfully completed Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 and/or Python Core by July 31, 2026, will receive a certificate of completion from BWSI. 

The team that wins the Racecar Challenge, along with its accompanying teacher, will have the opportunity to attend the last week of BWSI’s 2026 summer camp on its premises at MIT and to represent Greece in the international competition at the end of that week. The organizers of BWSI do not cover the boarding and traveling expenses of the winning team and its accompanying teacher. 

Who is it for?

Teachers/Educators

For students to participate, they need to be supported and registered by a teacher at their school. The teachers are responsible for ensuring that their students form teams, register them, and support them throughout the educational program, Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026, and the competition. Teachers can be assisted by a mentor of their choice.

Teacher or Educator Eligibility Criteria

Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026, Python Core and Racecar Challenge are open to:

• any teacher currently teaching in a school in Greece (this program is not open to  for-profit organizations),
• with sufficient knowledge in Python and computer science to support his/her team(s),
• who is not either listed on the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Sanctions list or is a citizen from U.S.-embargoed or sanctioned countries.  Please note that such lists may change from time to time.
• who have completed their team(s) registration by November 10, 2025.

Students

Students can participate in teams of 2 to 4 members (no individual participation) and must be registered by a teacher at their school. Completion of the Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 is required to take part in the Racecar Challenge.

Student Eligibility Criteria

1. Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 and Python Core are open to students:

• Enrolled in Greece in 1st, 2nd or 3rd Gymnasio, or in 1st Lykeio in September 2025,
• With some knowledge of programming (Python),
• Forming teams of 2 to 4 members,
• Working under the guidance of a teacher at their school,
• Who are NOT either listed on the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Sanctions list or who are NOT citizens from U.S.-embargoed or sanctioned countries.  Note that such lists may change from time to time,
• Who have completed registration by November 10, 2025, at 18:00.

2. Racecar Challenge is open to students:

• Having met the requirements to attend Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026,
• Who were not a member of a team which won the Racecar Challenge in a previous year,
• Having completed Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 and submitted their codes by May 4, 2026.

How can I participate?

1. Registration

Registration for Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 and/or Python Core, and Racecar Challenge requires 2 steps: a first registration onto Pierce’s portal (Register Here below), and a subsequent registration directly with BWSI. Registrations are open from September 22 to November 10, 2025. Once both steps are completed, teachers and students can start the course(s) as soon as it/they open(s) on BWSI’s platform, on October 1, 2025. Please note that only teachers can register students; students cannot register themselves.

2. Attending Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026

With their teacher’s guidance, students taking Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 are expected to have some prior programming knowledge, ideally with Python. Each chapter of the course is expected to take about 3 to 4 hours on average to complete (with some chapters potentially requiring fewer or more hours). Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 is fully supported for distance learning and includes the simulator RacecarSim which simulates the behavior of the physical vehicle based on the student’s programming.

Python Core is considered to require an average of 20 hours if followed in its entirety. 

For more information, please visit the following webpage: https://racecarchallenge.org/en/home-2/ 

Contact

For queries regarding registration: racecar@acg.edu.

For queries about the overall program: info@mathisi.org 

Key dates

• September 22, 2025
  Opening of registration for Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026, Python Core, and the 5th Racecar Challenge.
• October 1, 2025 
  Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 opens on BWSI’s platform.
• November 10, 2025 
  Registration deadline (both steps), at 18:00
• February 12, 2026        
  First indicative declaration of participating teams to the organizers.
• April 1, 2026
  Second indicative declaration of participating teams to the organizers.
• May 4, 2026, 18:00
  1) Deadline for the submission of teams’ time-trial codes (with the possibility that this date be moved a few days earlier to allow the organizers to prepare for the competition, depending on the number of participating teams), and 2) final team declaration (subject to codes submission on that day and completion of course by each individual team member by May 8th).
• May 8, 2026, 18:00
  Completion of the Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 to qualify to participate in the Racecar Challenge.
• May 9, 2026 
  Racecar Challenge at Pierce – the American College of Greece in Athens, Greece.
• July 27, 2026
  Beginning of the attendance by the Racecar Challenge winning team of the last week of BWSI summer camp and final competition pre-trials.
• July 31, 2026
  Courses close: completion of Racecar Neo Mathisi 2026 for the students who will have not been able to complete them earlier but chose to pursue the course to receive a certificate of completion from BWSI, completion of Python Core.
• August 1, 2026
  Final BWSI Racecar Challenge.

Collaborations

The Beaver Works Summer Institute at the Lincoln Lab at MIT is a place where ideas are encouraged and brought to life. It was started in 2016 in response to a challenge – to fill a gap and create a program that utilizes the MIT mindset to collaborate, work together, and bring college-level computer science and AI curriculum to high school students. MiniRacecar is one of the many courses created and offered by Beaver Works.

Mathisi Initiative is a non-profit organization formed by volunteers and whose mission is to facilitate access to educational programs of outstanding quality to all students in Greece, regardless of their economic or academic status. It is a member of MIT JWEL, which introduced Mathisi to BWSI. Mathisi has been working with BWSI over the last 2 years to promote access to their program in Greece in collaboration with Pierce – The American College of Greece.

Pierce – The American College of Greece offers a comprehensive education to foster intellectually independent, morally responsible, and socially engaged global citizens. “Non ministrari sed ministrare” (“Not to be served but to serve”) defines its institutional character and its aspiration for its students. It offers high-quality, personalized secondary (Gymnasium – Lyceum; International Baccalaureate Diploma Program) education and, as of September 2022, Kindergarten and Elementary education. It is one of three divisions of The American College of Greece (ACG), the oldest and largest American-based, comprehensive educational institution in Europe.